The road to survival

IN VILLAGES, say bamboo weavers, when it rains and the wind is strong, the bamboo plants sway and create lovely music. As lovely as the 'chiks' which the weavers craft out of split bamboo stems: splitting them to the required fineness, stitching and weaving together and finally painting them. But, alas, on a rainy day in Chennai, the chik-makers have to run for cover from the pavements, packing up bamboo stems, work frames and the finished chiks.

Meet the city's chik-makers whose workplace on busy pavements adds a touch of colour to street life as well showcases another vanishing craft of the country.

Drifting to the city because of dwindling markets in rural areas where they made 'morams', dividing 'walls', etc., these paramparic craftspersons face many problems in the city such as lack of storage space, vagaries of the weather, even being shuttled from place to place, yet, they prefer to make a living in the city.

Says Mangamma, who has a pavement perch on the TTK Road, "Our work is seasonal, largely dependent on sunny days. We get our orders from passers-by. People stop to see our samples and place their orders. We earn enough to eat, that is how it is with our work..." This is the case with another craftsman who runs a bigger establishment on the pavement opposite the TTK flyover. The rain gods interrupt his team's creative efforts as well, but he is happy with his 'outdoor' showroom and gets enough orders.

The samples which hang in the pavements showcase skills and a sense of aesthetics fine-tuned to suit both interiors and exteriors. The thicker and more coarse chiks are painted in bright shades of green, blue and red. The more delicate ones are stitched together in 'diamond' 'glass' and 'sangli' patterns. There are 'khus' or 'vetrivel' grass chiks, which are non- polluting and economical way of cooling, specially, during summer. The finely made chiks are also perfect alternatives to heavy curtains. Cool looking and elegant, chiks are becoming increasingly popular, especially among the young eco-conscious generation. The thicker bamboo chicks are excellent for verandahs, windows, etc. and partitions. Painted in vivid or soft shades, they provide just the right rustic touch to the decor.

But, Mangamma laments that slatted plastic is replacing 'moongil' chiks, especially in offices. The Delhi Crafts Council exhibition of chiks two years ago has inspired many chik-makers of Chennai.

It's a hard existence for the pavement artists. "Yet, we will carry on our trade," they say.

PUSHPA CHARI

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Section  : Features
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